MINNEAPOLIS -- Calvin Johnson might have made the play of the game -- or several of them, for that matter -- with his 40-yard over-the-shoulder catch in overtime.

But the play never happens if running back Jahvid Best didn't offer himself as a human sacrifice as Vikings linebacker Chad Greenway barreled toward Detroit QB Matthew Stafford.

"Can't let that go unnoticed," Stafford said. "Jahvid picked up Chad Greenway right through the middle. He got run over but he gave me enough time to get it off."

Said Best: "He definitely ran me over, but I got the job done.

TURNING POINT
Detroit had already scored three times in the second half to trim
Minnesota's lead to 20-17, but the Vikings appeared on the verge of
striking back early in the fourth quarter -- or, at the very least,
adding a field goal to go ahead 23-17.

Facing 4th-and-1 at the 17-yard
line, the Vikings chose to go for it, handing the ball to Toby Gerhart.
Gerhart met the Lions' Sammie Hill and Andre Fluellen at the line of
scrimmage and didn't go any farther.

Detroit took possession and, 12
plays later, Jason Hanson's 50-yard field goal completed the comeback,
tying the game at 20-20.

BY THE NUMBERS5 -- The number of times the Vikings sacked Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford Sunday. Detroit was the only team that hadn't given up a sack in its first two games.

54-7 -- The number of points by which Minnesota has outscored its three opponents in the first half this season.

67-6 -- The number of points by which Minnesota has been outscored this season after halftime.

7 -- Yards by Vikings running back Adrian Peterson in the second half. Peterson had 71 yards on 12 carries at the half, and carried five more times with little impact.

2 -- The number of touchdowns Lions receiver Calvin Johnson has scored in each of the team's three games this season, joining Mel Farr (1970) and Cloyce Box (1952) as the only players in franchise history to accomplish the feat.

QUOTABLE"They're going to the sideline, they're looking at the printouts, who do they point to as the guy of emphasis to stop? It's tough." -- Lions wideout Nate Burleson on Detroit's considerable number of receiving targets Sunday. Five players tallied at least 50 yards receiving. Burleson had two catches for 12 yards.

"It's a very difficult place to play. It's one of the loudest stadiums in the NFL. They affected the game, affected it early, affected it in the fourth quarter. ... I always like to downplay a win, but this is a tough place to play. It's tough to get a win. There's a reason we have won here in a long time." -- Lions coach Jim Schwartz on the Vikings fans and winning for the first time since 1997 at the Metrodome.